Key Duplication Machine

1. An assembly for duplicating a master key, said assembly comprising: an optical imaging device for capturing an optical image of at least a portion of said master key; a logic for determining a key pattern of said master key from said optical image of master key; a clamping assembly for clamping a key blank; and a first cutting member for cutting a key pattern into said key blank a first positioning member and a second positioning member, where said first and second positioning members engage said master key or said key blank to position said master key or said key blank relative to said assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , where said key pattern cut into key blank is a duplication of said key pattern of master key.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , where said logic directs said first cutting member during duplication of said key pattern of master key.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , where said optical image is a digital image.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , where said clamping assembly further comprises: a first clamping member having a first clamping surface defining a width; and a second clamping member having a second clamping surface defining a width.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , where said key blank further comprises a blade defining a width, where said width of first clamping member and said width of second clamping member are less than said width of blade of key blank.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second cutting member for cutting said key pattern into said key blank, where said first and second cutting members are capable of cutting said key pattern into either side of said key blank.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , where said first cutting member is a cutting wheel.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retention mechanism for retaining said master key or said key blank.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , where said retention mechanism further comprises: a base; a retention plate; and a biasing member biasing said retention plate towards said base.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first positioning member and said second positioning member are capable of moving independent of one another.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface for providing output to a user.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , where said logic determines said key blank from said optical image of said master key.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , where identity of said determined key blank is output to said user by said user interface.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , where said user interface is a display rack for the display of a plurality of key blanks.

16. The assembly of claim 1 , where said key blank may be clamped in a first orientation or a second orientation.

17. A method for duplicating a master key, said method comprising: capturing an optical image of at least a portion of said master key; engaging said master key or said key blank between a first positioning member and a second positioning member to position said master key relative to said assembly; providing a logic to determine a key pattern of said master key from said optical image of master key; securing a key blank; and cutting a key pattern into said key blank.

18. The method of claim 17 , where said key pattern cut into key blank is a duplication of said key pattern of master key.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising using logic to determine said key blank.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising outputting said determined key blank to a user.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising: capturing an optical image of at least a portion of said key blank; and using said logic to validate said key blank matches said master key.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising: capturing an optical image of at least a portion of said key pattern cut into key blank; using said logic to determine said key pattern cut into key blank; and using said logic to compare said key pattern cut into key blank with said key pattern of master key.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising using said logic to validate that said key pattern cut into key blank is within a predefined tolerance of said key pattern of master key.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein said first and second positioning member are capable of moving said master key or said key blank in two axes.

25. The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of said first positioning member and said second positioning member is controlled by a motor.

26. The method of claim 17 , wherein said first positioning member is capable of moving independent of said second positioning member.

27. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first positioning member and said second positioning member are capable of moving said master key or said key blank in both a first axis and a second axis.

28. The assembly of claim 27 , wherein said first axis is approximately perpendicular to said second axis.

29. The assembly of claim 27 , wherein said first and second positioning members are capable of movement in a third axis, different from said first axis and said second axis.

30. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first positioning member and said second positioning member is driven by a motor.

31. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first positioning member and said second positioning member is spring biased.

32. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first and second positioning members are configured to insert the key blank into a clamping mechanism.

33. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first positioning member and said second positioning member includes a flat surface positioned to engage an edge of said master key or said key blank.

34. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of disengaging said first and second positioning members from said master key or said key blank.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein said first and second positioning members disengage said master key or said key blank prior to cutting a key pattern into said key blank.